First Black British Victoria's Secret Angel Has To Redo Her Own Hair And Makeup Because Professionals Don't Know How To Work With Her Skin Tone
She begged fashion houses to make more effort in hiring stylists suited to working with Black people.
Leomie Anderson has been modeling since she was first scouted in London at 14. By the time she was 17, she was walking the runway for Marc Jacobs.
Since then, Leomie has enjoyed a prosperous career and even became Victoria's Secret's first Black British angel. However, despite all of her success, Leomie says that her job is still significantly affected by her skin color.
In October 2021, Leomie shared a video on her TikTok demonstrating how her hair and makeup artists were entirely unprepared to work with her hair type and skin tone. So much so that Leomie had to redo her entire face of makeup herself before stepping out on the runway at New York Fashion Week.
Leomie explained that first, a makeup artist applied the wrong color foundation. Then another artist attempted to fix it but failed.
The stunning model said she felt "ugly AF," so she redid her own makeup in 10 minutes before walking out on stage. But that wasn't all—Leomie's hair was also handled roughly, and it took three stylists just to get it dry and styled.
Leomie says the experience left her feeling disheartened. She begged fashion houses to make more effort in hiring stylists suited to working with Black people.
Beautiful Leomie Anderson has been modeling since she was first scouted in London at 14.
TikTok/ leomieandersonBy the time she was 17, she was walking the runway for Marc Jacobs.
TikTok/ leomieandersonHowever, despite all of her success, Leomie says that her job is still significantly affected by her skin color.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
In October 2021, Leomie shared a video on her TikTok demonstrating how her hair and makeup artists were entirely unprepared to work with her hair type and skin tone.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
"I look like I work in the mines."
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie explained that first, a makeup artist applied the wrong color foundation. Then another artist attempted to fix it but failed.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie's hair was also handled roughly, and it took three stylists just to get it dry and styled.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
"I was told to wash my hair; no one dried it until the last minute."
TikTok/ leomieanderson
The stunning model said she felt "ugly AF," so she redid her own makeup in 10 minutes before walking out on stage.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie says the experience left her feeling disheartened.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
She begged fashion houses to make more effort in hiring stylists suited to working with Black people.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
And Leomie isn't alone in her experience.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Women of color everywhere started replying to Leomie's posts with their personal stories.
Twitter / xjasminem
"It's giving hate crime."
Twitter / jadasimonew
"Brows were horrible."
Twitter / Nesha_iam
"I've only felt pretty on set a couple of times."
Twitter / KennedyZimet
"I felt so ugly and hideous."
Twitter / Thelifeofkeni
Here's how people reacted.
TikTok / tescobillieeilish
"This is the BS that makes a lot of us quit."
TikTok / ulackserotonin
"I just don't get it."
TikTok / beckilouise_c
"Tragic."
TikTok / alfredo_assassin
"The problem is beauty schools."
Twitter / mandxloriangrl
"It amazes me."
TikTok / michelleomamasamilf
"People are different."
Haylee Plukpluk
"Shouldn't you be trained to style all types of hair and skin tones?"
Chelsea Murphy
"They should pay her what a makeup artist and hair stylist would earn."
Kira Robertson
"This should not be happening."
Prachi Nadkarni
Sadly, Leomie's story is far from out of the ordinary. During Paris Fashion Week in 2017, model Londone Myers shared a similar experience, and model Ashley Chew even created the hashtag #BlackModelsMatter.
However, on a more positive note, it was reported that New York Fashion Week Spring 2022 was one of the most diverse seasons ever. In fact, 55.5% of the models involved were of color.
Even so, it's clear that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the fashion industry when it comes to ethnic diversity. Here's hoping that things will only improve from here!